Control device for a photographic apparatus



June 7, 1938. A, FULLER ,2,l19,846

CONTROL DEVICE FOR A PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Filed April 22, 1937Alba'bBHzlla W W P QVVENTOR: M fflw ATTO Patented June 7, 1938 PATENToFFIcE CONTROL DEVICE FOR A PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS Albert B. Fuller,Rochester, N. Y., assignor to Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N. Y., acorporation of New Jersey Application April 22, 1937, Serial No. 138,393

12 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in a control device formotion picture apparatus and is a continuation in part of my copendingapplication, Serial No. 733,600, filed July 3, 1934,

.g'for Motor drive for motion picture cameras.

Electro-magnetic control devices have been previously used in the motionpicture art but have been restricted to controlling apparatus for burstsof pictures rather than for single pictures or time exposures.

The primary object of the present invention is the provision in theenergizing circuit for an electro-magnetic control member of a condenserwhich may discharge through the electro-mag- .netic member and onlymomentarily energize the same.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a blocking memberfor a clutch on the motion picture apparatus and which blocking member Zunder the control of the aforementioned electromagnetic member maymomentarily move the blocking member out of engagement with the clutchmember on the apparatus.

A further object of the invention is the pro- :vision of a chargingcircuit for impressing a charge upon the condenser which is to dischargethrough the aforementioned electro-magnetic control member and of switchmeans which permit disconnection of the charging circuit from thecondenser simultaneously with the connection of the condenser to theelectro-magnetic member for discharging therethrough.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a switchmember which will supervise the charging and energizing circuits so thatthe aforementioned electro-magnetic member may be either momentarilyenergized or may be continuously energized for a desired interval.

A still further object of the invention is the provision upon theblocking member for engaging the clutch on the apparatus of an arm whichis movable to either of two positions for supervising engagement of theblocking member with either of a pair of projections on the clutch orwith only one of them. Other and further objects of the invention willbe suggested to those skilled in the art by the following description.

The above and other objects of the invention blocking member. A chargingcircuit is arranged for exclusively charging the aforementionedcondenser or for charging the condenser and impressing a holding currentupon the electromagnetic member for continuous operation of theapparatus. A movable arm or guide may be provided on the blocking memberto supervise engagement of the blocking member with the clutch member onthe apparatus.

Reference is hereby made to the accompanying 10 drawing wherein similarreference characters designate similar elements and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a wiring diagram of the control circuits and a plan view ofthe control device with a fragmentary section through the base memberthereof.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the control device'according to the invention.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a modified form of the control device With asection taken through the 20 base member.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the control device of Fig. 3 with a sectionbroken away for better illustration of the blocking member.

The control arrangement according to the invention is illustrated asapplied to a motion picture camera but may also be applied to othertypes of motion picture apparatus; Said motion picture camera Ill isequipped with an objective I l and includes an operating shaft l2 whichtends to rotate either by reason of a spring motoror tendency drive, notshown, but connected thereto in a recognized manner.

A clutch member I3 is mounted upon said operating shaft l2 and includesan integral and cylindrical sleeve I4 making a driving fit 'with cameraoperating shaft [2, a pair of oppositely located projections l5 and I6,and a pair of intermediate arcuate portions l1 and I8. Arcuate portionI1 is provided on one side of clutch mem- 4O ber l3 between theprojections l5 and I6 and arcuate portion I8 is provided on the otherside of clutch member l3 also between the projections l5 and 16 but isgreater in radial extent than said intermediate arcuate portion I1. 45

A base member I9 is provided with an opening 20 which receives theclutch member I3. Said base member 20 may be mounted upon the camera Inby a pair of bolts 2i.

An electro-magnetic member comprises a coil 22 surrounding a core 23 andmounted upon said base member l9 by means of a stirrup 24. A blockingmeans or member which normally engages said clutch member I3 is alsomounted upon the base member I 9. Said blocking member 55 comprises anarmature 25 which is pivotally mounted between bearings 26 of basemember l9 by pintles 21. An abutment 21 is mounted upon armature 25 andextends along base member I9 into the opening 29 therein. A leaf spring28 is also mounted on base member l9 and bears against a pin 29depending from armature 25 so that the free end of abutment 21 isnormally moved into engagement with either of the projections 15 and IEon clutch member 13.

The energizing and control circuits are illustrated in Fig. 1. Thesource of electrical energy is a battery 30 which is preferably of thetype generally used for flash lights. One side of the battery 30 isconnected directly by a wire 3| to one side of coil 22 of theelectro-magnet. The other side of battery 30 is connected through aswitch 32 to one end of a resistor 33. The other end of resistor 33 isconnected by a lead 34 to one side of a single pole double throw switch35. Switch 35 may be of the push button type and is preferably heldnormally in the position designated off as shown in Fig. 1. The otherside of switch 35 which corresponds to the on position thereof isconnected by a lead 36 to the other side of coil 22 of theelectro-magnetic member. The switch arm 31 of switch 35 is connected bya lead 33 to one side of a fixed condenser 39, the other side ofcondenser 39 being connected to the wire 3! between battery 39! and coil22.

A second single pole double throw switch 49 has an outside pole 4|connected by a wire 42 to a point between the battery 30 and resistor 33while the other outside pole 43 of switch 40 .is connected by a wire 44to the lead 38 between fixed condenser 39 and the switch arm 31 ofswitch 35. The center pole 45 of switch 49 is connected to the lead 34between resistor 33 and the off side of switch 35. While switch arm 31of switch 35 is normally held in the off position the switch arm 46 ofswitch 40 may remain either in contact with the outside pole 4|,designated as position S or may be moved into contact with the otheroutside pole 43 which position is designated as C.

The operation of the electrical circuit just described is as follows:Upon closure of switch 32 and with switch arms 31 and 46 in thepositions shown in Fig. 1, the condenser 39 is charged by the battery 39through the outside pole 4| of switch 49 and through the off position ofswitch 35, the resistor 33 being shunted by the wire 42. The leads toswitch 35 may be of any length to permit remote location thereof. Uponmovement of switch arm 31 to the on position, the condenser 39 isconnected across the electro-magnetic coil 22, core 23 is magnetized andarmature 25 is attracted against the action of leaf spring 28.

Condenser 39 and the electro-magnetic member are designed so that thedischarged current from condenser 39 only momentarily energizes coil 22sufficiently toattract the armature 25. Consequently upon suchenergization of coil 22, armature 25 is moved to disengage abutment 21from the projection 15 on clutch member l3.

After said discharge of condenser 39 and the momentary energization ofcore 23, the leaf spring 28 predominates and returns the armature 25 andabutment 21 to engaging position and this return takes place so rapidlythat the abutment 21 may engage: the other projection l6 of clutchmember l3. Said projection 16 on the clutch member is so located withrespect to the camera mechanism that the camera shutter is in openposition when abutment 21 and projection l6 are in engagement.Irrespective of the length of time that switch arm 21 is held in the onposition, coil 22 and core 23 are only momentarily energized.

Upon release of the push button or switch arm 31, said arm 31 returns tonormal position and a charging circuit through a portion of wire3l,battery 30, switch 32, wire 42, pole 4|, switch arm 46 of switch 40,center pole 45, lead 34, switch arm 31, and lead 38 is establishedacross condenser 39. Since movement of switch arm 31 from the off to theon position disconnects this charging circuit from condenser 39, theelectro-magnetic member receives only a single impulse designated by theletter S on switch 49. Upon the next operation of switch arm 31, coil 22and core 23 are again temporarily energized by condenser 29 to disengageabutment 21 and projection 16, abutment 21 again being immediatelyreturned for engagement with projection 15.

The control device of the invention is also adapted to permit a singlecomplete cycle of operation of the camera. For this purpose a. guide 41is provided with elongated slots 48 and is slidably mounted uponabutment 21 by a pair of screws 49. With guide 41 in the position shownin Fig. 2, the operation of the control device will be as justdescribed. However, when guide 41 is slid into the position indicated bythe dot dash lines in Fig. 2, the operation of the control device ismodified. With the end of abutment 21 in engagement with projection i ofclutch member 13 and upon temporary energization of coil 22 by condenser39, upon closure of switch 35, the'clutch member [3 will be rotated. Thecoil 22 and core 23 are only temporary or momentarily energized bycondenser 39 so that spring 23 almost immediately endeavors to returnabutment 21 for engagement with the other projection l3. However, guide41 now rides upon the intermediate arcuate portion 18 of greater radialextent and prevents the return of abutment 21 by spring 28 until afterprojection 16 has passed the end of abutment 21. The intermediatearcuate portion l1 of smaller radius will permit the return of abutment21 for engagement with projection 15. Thus, a single closure of switch35 effects a complete cycle of the camera and the exposure for the usualperiod of a single picture.

If the camera I0 is to be operated continuously, the switch arm 46 ismoved to the position designated C. The condenser 39 is now charged bybattery 30 through resistor 33. Upon closure of switch arm 31, thecondenser 39 is connected across the coil 22 but in addition the battery30 is also connected across coil 22 through the resistor 33. As aresult, the coil 22 is initially energized by the combined eifects ofbattery 39 and condenser 39. This relatively large initial energizationis necessary for the original attraction of armature 25 and abutment 21.After the discharge of condenser 39, the coil 22 and core 23 continue tobe energized sufficiently to hold the armature 25 in attracted positionbut such energization is now supplied by the difference in potentialacross battery 30 less the voltage drop across resistor 33. Under thislast condilion. the coil 22 is energized sufficiently to hold abutment21 out of engagement with clutch member l3 against the action of spring28 by the energy drawn from the battery 30. Obvi-' ously thisarrangement for utilizing a smaller holding current during a continuousoperation of the apparatus substantially prolongs the life of battery30.

The subject matter thus far disclosed and described corresponds exactlywith that previously disclosed and described in my aforementionedpending application. The new modification introduced by thiscontinuation in part will now be described.

Such new modification consists primarily in a simpler and moreadvantageous construction of the blocking member and particularly thearm or abutment for engaging the clutch member l3. The base member 50,see Figs. 3 and 4, is provided with an opening 5! within which clutchmember l3 may rotate. The coil 22 and core 23 are mounted within acasing 52 which is connected by bolts 53 to spaced supports 54 of basemember 50. Coil 22 may be connected to the energizing and controlcircuits as before through wire 3| and lead 36.

The blocking member comprises an armature 55 mounted in magneticrelationship to core 23 by a plate spring 55 attached to armature 55 byrivets 51, having one end engaged by a clamp 58 on casing 52 and havingthe other end in the form of a spring arm 59 for holding the armaturenormally spaced from core 23. A stop is mounted on armature for abutmentagainst casing 52 to limit the attracted movement of the armature 55.

An arm 5! is pivotally mounted on armature 55 by means of a headed stud62. Said arm is movable to either of two positions one of which isillustrated in Fig. 4, and is maintained in either of these positions bya spring 53 mounted by screw 64 and collars 65 to straddle arm 6|. Apimple 65 is provided in spring 53 for frictional engagement with arm Blto hold it in either position.

With arm Iii in the position shown in Fig. 4, and upon energization ofcoil 22 and core 23, said arm will be moved out of engagement with theprojection i5 and can only return under the action of spring arm 59 forengagement with said projection l5. The action of the intermediatearcuate portion l8 of greater radial extent being the same as before toprevent engagement of arm 6! with the projection l6. However, when armBI is rotated to the position indicated by the dot dash lines in Fig. 4,the end of arm 6| will clear the periphery of said arcuate portion l8 ofgreater axial extent and the arm may engage with projection l5 or Hi.This function of the blocking member is quite similar to that shown inthe other form of Figs. 1 and 2 but is merely more convenient and ruggedfrom a production standpoint.

Since many modifications of the present invention are possible, thepresent disclosure is to be construed in an illustrative and not in alimited sense. The scope of the invention is defined in the appendedclaims.

What I claim is:

1. In a control device for a photographic apparatus, the combinationwith an operating shaft on said apparatus and tending to rotate, aclutch member on said shaft and having a pair of oppositely locatedprojections, a blocking means normally engaging either of theprojections on said clutch member, and an e-lectro-magnetic member inmagnetic relation to said blocking member, of an energizing meansincluding a condenser adapted to discharge through said electro-magneticmember, momentarily to move said blocking means out of engagement withone of said projections on said clutch member, and then permittingreturn of said blocking means to engage the other projection on saidclutch member.

2. In a control device for a photographic apparatus, the combinationwith an operating shaft ber in magnetic relation to said blockingmember,

of a condenser, a charging circuit including a source of electricalenergy, a discharging circuit including said electro-magnetic member,and a switch means connected to said condenser, for disconnecting saidcondenser from said charging circuit and for connecting said condenserto said discharging circuit momentarily to move said blocking means outof engagement with one of said projections and then permitting return ofsaid blocking means to engage the other pro-jeetion on said clutchmember.

3. In a control device for a photographic apparatus, the combinationwith a clutch member on said apparatus, a blocking means movable intoengagement with said clutch member, and an electro-magn-etic memberadjacent said blocking means for operating the same, of an energizingmeans including a condenser adapted to discharge through saidelectro-magnetic member for operation of said blocking means.

4. In a control device for a photographic apparatus, the combinationwith a clutch member on said apparatus, a blocking means normallyengaging said clutch member, and an electroma netic member adjacent saidblocking means and adapted upon energization to move said blocking meansout of engagement with said clutch member, of an energizing meansincluding a condenser adapted to discharge through said electro-magneticmember which is then energized to move said blocking means out ofengagement with said clutch member.

5. In a control device for a photographic apparatus. the combinationwith a clutch member on said apparatus, a blocking means movable intoengagement with said clutch member, and an electro-magnetic memberadjacent said blocking means for operating the same, of a condenser, acharging circuit including a source of electrical energy, a dischargingcircuit including said electro-magnetic member, and a switch means forcompleting said discharging circuit to said electro-magnetic member,said condenser discharge energizing said electro-magnetic member to movesaid blocking means out of engagement with said clutch member.

6. In a control device for a photographic apparatus, the combinationwith a clutch member on said apparatus, a blocking member movablymounted and normally in engagement with said clutch member, and anelectro-magnetic member in operative relation to said blocking member,of a condenser, a charging circuit including a source of electricalenergy, a discharging circuit including said electro-magnetic member,and a switch means connected to said condenser, for disconnecting saidcondenser from said charging circuit and for connecting said condenserto said discharging circuit.

7. In a control device for a photographic apparatus, the combinationwith a clutch member on said apparatus, a blocking member movablymounted and normally in engagement with said clutch member, and anelectro-magnetio memsource of electrical energy, a discharging circuitincluding said electro-magnetic member, and a switch means connected tosaid condenser, for

disconnecting said condenser from said charging circuit and forconnecting said condenser to said discharging circuit, the discharge ofsaid condenser being such as to momentarily energize saidelectro-magnetic member for momentary disengagement of said blockingmember and clutch member. a

8. In a control device for a photographic apparatus, the combinationwith a clutch member on'said apparatus, a blocking member movablymounted and normally in engagement with said clutch member, and anelectro-magnetic member in operative relation to said blocking member,of a condenser, a charging circuit including a source of electricalenergy, and a resistor, a discharging circuit including saidelectro-magnectic member, and a switch means connected to said condenserand for connecting said condenser and said charging circuit to saidelectromagnetic member for comparatively high and momentary energizationthereof from said condenser and for lower and continuous energizationfrom said charging circuit.

9. In a control device for a photographic apparatus, the combinationwith a clutch member on said apparatus, a blocking member movablymounted and normally in engagement with said clutch member, and asolenoid in operative relation to said blocking member, of a switchmeans including a pair of contacts and an arm normally held inengagement with one of said contacts, a condenser having one sideconnected to said switch arm and the other side connected to saidsolenoid, a battery having one side connected to said one side of saidcondenser, a resistor having one end connected to the other side of saidbattery and having its other end connected to said one contact of saidswitch means, a shunt circuit across said resistor, a second switchmeans in said shunt circuit and for alternatively connecting said otherside of the battery to said one side of said condenser, and a connectionfrom said other contact of the first mentioned switch means to the otherside of said solenoid.

10. In a control device for photographic apparatus, the combination withan operating shaft on said apparatus and tending to rotate, and a clutchmember on said shaft and including a pair of oppositely locatedprojections and a pair of intermediate arcuate portions, one of which isgreater in radial extent than the other, of a blocking member normallyin engagement with said clutch member and including an arm movable toeither of two positions, and a solenoid in juxtaposition to saidblocking member and adapted upon being energized to move said blockingmember out of engagement with said clutch member, said arm in oneposition permitting return of the blocking member into engagement witheither of said projections and saidarm in the other position on saidblocking member riding upon .the intermediate arcuate portion of greaterradial extent and permitting return of saidblocking member forengagement with only one of said projections.

11. In a control device for a photographic apparatus, the combinationwith an operating shaft on said apparatus and tending to rotate, and aclutch member on said shaft and including a pair of oppositely locatedprojections and a pair of intermediate arcuate portions, one of which isgreater in radial extent than the other, of a blocking member movablymounted including an abutment normally in engagement with either of theprojections on said clutch member and including a guide slidable uponsaid blocking member to either of two positions, and a solenoid adjacentsaid blocking member and adapted upon being energized to move theabutment of said blocking member out of engagement with said clutchmember, said guide in one position engaging the intermediate arcuateportion of greater radial extent and permitting the return of saidabutment for engagement with only one of said projections on the clutchmember.

12. In a control device for a photographic apparatus, the combinationwith an operating shaft on said apparatus and tending to rotate, and aclutch member on said shaft and including a pair of oppositely locatedprojections and a pair of intermediate arcuate portions, one of which isgreater in radial extent than the other, of a blocking member normallyin engagement with said clutch member and including an arm rotatablymounted on said blocking member and movable to either of two positions,and a solenoid adjacent said blocking member and adapted upon beingenergized to move the arm of said blocking member out of engagement withsaid clutch member, said arm in one position upon return of the blockingmember engaging either of said projections and said arm in the otherposition on said blocking member riding upon the intermediate arcuateportion of greater radial extent and returning to engage only one ofsaid projections on said clutch member.

ALBERT B. FULLER.

